For August. 1923 



195 



Hardy Bulbs for Fall Planting 



H. E. DOWNER 



THE announcement made by the Federal Horticultural 

 lioard some time since that the importation of such 

 bulbs as Scilla, IMuscari, Galanthus, Chionodoxa, 

 etc., would be again permitted was very gratifying to all 

 those who love these beautiful Spring flowers, but the con- 

 cession is limited to only three years, after which they are 

 to be excluded again. At that time, also, the prohibition 

 against Ijulbs is to lie extended to Narcissus. Everyone, 

 therefore, who has a garden would lie well advised to plant 

 these bulbs as generously as possible during this open 

 l^eriod. 



There are few places indeed where serious effort has 

 been made to realize to the fullest extent their beauty and 

 charm, and certainly no plants can surpass them in ease 

 of culture. Outside the purely formal garden, the more 

 informally they can be arranged the better. To see big 

 drifts of Squills, Crocuses, or Daffodils flowering through 

 the grass is a picture to be always remenil)ered with pleas- 

 ure, and such pictures could be displayed for the benefit 

 of thousands of people in our public parks and gardens 

 at comparatively small expense. In a small garden I 

 know, containing many rare and beautiful plants, are some 

 nice old apple trees beneath which in the early Spring- 

 there develops a ])icture of wondrous lieautv. First comes 

 the Snowdrop, pale but beautiful, and then the gay flowers 

 of Crocus. Scilla and Chionodoxa. Thousands of these 

 little btilbs are intermingled and very happy in a few 

 square feet. After the foliage has ripened the mower is 

 brought into play and this former patch of unusual loveli- 

 ness is just lawn the rest of the season. One need not be 

 a millionaire with extensive acreage to duplicate that. 



Although the planting season is some time ahead, it is 

 none too soon to be ])lanning. If dormant bulbs could be 

 had in the Spring the bulb business would increase, as 

 we often meet people who would so love to have some in 

 their garden but forget all about planting until they see 

 them in bloom. Most Ijulbs are not very particular as to 

 soil but they do appreciate a good soil with some body to 

 it. It is not wise to use manure at planting time unless it 

 is thoroughly decomposed. Leaf-mold is good, especiallv 

 on heavy soil, and if it is thought that a little more assis- 

 tance is necessary, i:)one meal is safe and much appreciated. 

 There is no great reason for delaying planting" after the 

 Imlbs are on hand, except sometimes force of circum- 

 stances. 



If we dig up established bulbs in September we find 

 they are well rooted. This brings up the question of plant- 

 ing bulbs in the herl)aceous border and allowing them to 

 remain from year to }-ear. To my mind an herliaceous 

 border is not complete without a good assortment of bulbs 

 planted informally throughout. Their flowers show off' 

 well amongst the fresh young growth of the later flower- 

 ing perennials, their ripening foliage is not conspicuous, 

 and any gaps the_\' leave can be well filled with annuals. 

 There comes a time, however, when the border needs 

 renovating and it is usually the middle of October before 

 this can be done. T have never hesitated to dig up and 

 divide the clumps of bulbs at that time, or even later, and 

 have yet to see any ill eft'ects from so doing. It is impor- 

 tant, of course, to see they are not allowed to drv out while 

 the changes are being made. 



It often happens that Daffodils and Tulips are not 

 planted deep enough ; they should have at least four inches 

 of soil over them. Another little detail worth looking- 

 after is to make sure that the base of the bulb is resting 

 on soil. For all Imt the smallest bulbs, a broad trowel is 



a better tool to use than a slim one or a dibble. As a 

 A\ inter covering for beds, pine needles are very good, 

 being easily cleaned off' in the Spring and not heavv 

 enough to interfere with the pushing young growth. Half 

 decayed leaves are excellent for this purpose also. When 

 planting in sod it pays to make generous sized holes to 

 allow of some prepared compost being placed tinder and 

 o\er the bulb. The art of planting in grass is to make it 

 appear that, like Topsy, they "just growed." Anything 

 resembling studied regularitv is not nearly so pleasing. 

 The important thing after flowering is not to cut the 

 grass until the foliage has ripened off. 



How encotu-aging it is, in the days when we seem to 

 have had more than enough of Winter, to find the first 

 Snowdrops in bloom. This dainty little harbinger of 

 .Spring is equally at home in the rock-garden, clumped in 

 shady places in borders or scattered in grass. Galanthus 

 Eiwesii is a giant Snowdrop compared with the common 

 G. nivalis, and is apparently more difficult to obtain. The 

 Winter Aconite, Eranthis hyemalis, is usually listed with 

 bulbs and a very cheerv little plant it is with its bright 

 yellow flowers and good clean foliage. It is quite happy 

 in moist places beneath the shade of trees and shrubs. A 

 little edging- of Crocuses is very attractive in a front vard, 

 but spread with a lavish hand in grassy places, they pro- 

 duce a marvelous effect. C)ne of the special Spring fea- 

 tures in the famous Kew Garden is the display of Cro- 

 cuses in the grass. The newest varieties are much ad- 

 vanced in size. Crocus Imperati, C. biflorus and C. susi- 

 anus are species, smaller flowering but earlier than the 

 hybrids and are well placed in the rock garden. The small 

 Squills, Scilla sibirica and S. bifolia are very lovely when 

 thickly jilanted in grass, and if left alone in borders they 

 increase f|uite rapidly. As a contrast to their flowers of 

 deepest blue, a little of the white variety can be inter- 

 spersed with good eft'ect. Scilla campanulata, the Wood 

 Hyacinth, is a larger and later type in colors of white, 

 pink, and iilue, very good to clump in shady places. 



A small bulb not commonly seen is Puschkinia scilloides. 

 It has white flowers lined with blue, closely resembling the 

 small Squills to which it is an excellent companion. 



The Glory-of-the-Snow is too lovely to be omitted from 

 any Spring ^'"arden. ^\"ith its blue and white flowers, 

 hanging- loosely from the stem, it gives a very charming- 

 effect in the rock garden, borders or grass. Chionodoxa 

 Lucillix is the species generally planted, but the variety 

 grandiflora has a much larger flower. 



The Grape Hyacinth, ^Miiscari botryoides, prolongs the 

 season of lilue and thrives well in practically any situation. 

 The variety Heavenly Blue, is best, and there is a white 

 varietv which is very good for contrast. The Feathered 

 Hyacinth, M. nionstrosum, is an interesting oddity with its 

 plume-like flowers. 



The Guinea Hen flower, Fritillaria meleagris, would 

 l)e a novelty for many and is a most interesting plant for 

 the border or wild garden. The nodding, cup-shaped 

 flowers are curiously striped and checkered in shades of 

 yellow, white, and purple. ■ Outside of real old-fashioned 

 gardens, the Spring Snowflake, Leucojum vernum, is sel- 

 dom met with. It resembles a glorified Snowdrop, a few 

 weeks behind time, and is excellent for naturalizing and 

 groujiing in borders partially shaded. 



Triteleia tiniflora makes a very attractive edging along 

 a warm sunny border with its pretty star-shaped flowers 

 of white shaded to violet. 



Daft'odil time is a beautiful time in the oarden, and 



